Food Guidance
The Agency regularly issues guidance to food industry representatives and other stakeholders on a range of topics, often as a result of new regulations coming into force.
We have listed some of the most popular reports here, which you can easily download.
Find out more
Legislation controlling contaminants in food and food irradiation: Explanatory note
This note gives a general introduction to that EU harmonised legislation and describes its implementation in the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland has always had separate, but similar, provisions to the rest of Great Britain. Since devolution, Scotland and Wales also have their own provisions that reflect the measures in force in England that are described in the legislation.
Non-permitted colours in spices: Guidance note
Guidance to help food companies that use spices to minimise the risk of products adulterated with non-permitted colours entering the food chain is available. Controls on the import of chilli, chilli products, curcuma and palm oil fall under Regulation (EC) 669/2009.
Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water Regulations 2007 Guidance Note
Guidance is available on the recognition, exploitation, bottling and labelling rules for natural mineral water, spring water and bottled drinking water in the UK. The FSA is currently reviewing this guidance and is seeking views from stakeholders and interested parties. Suggested changes received will be considered for inclusion in the draft revised guidance, which will be consulted on in 2010.
Contaminants in Food (England) Regulations Guidance note 2009
This Guidance Note provides informal guidance to The Contaminants in Food (England) Regulations 2009 (Statutory Instrument 2009 No. 1223) and should be read in conjunction with the pertinent EU legislation, including European Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006 as amended, as well as Commission Regulation (EC) No. 124/2009 and the accompanying Regulation on Sampling and Analysis for Official Controls.
Food Safety Act 1990: a Guide for Food Businesses
The Agency has published revised guidance for food businesses on the Food Safety Act 1990. The guidance is applicable to all types of food business in England, Scotland and Wales.
Guidance on the Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (England) Regulations 2009
These guidance notes are for businesses (including SMEs, which may either use the guidance directly or learn about it via trade associations or enforcement authority contacts) that manufacture, use, import or sell materials and articles made from plastic that are intended for use in contact with food.
Vacuum packed chilled foods guidance
The Agency has produced guidance and a factsheet to help minimise the risk of Clostridium botulinum in vacuum and modified atmosphere packed chilled foods. The guidance is designed to assist small businesses and local authority environmental health officers assess the risks.
Bread and Flour Regulations 1998: Guidance notes
The Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 lay down labelling and compositional standards for the breads and flours to which they apply. They also continue with a long standing national requirement to restore certain vitamins and minerals to flour manufactured and sold in the UK.
Guidance on nutrition and health claims made on foods
This guidance aims to help food business operators who wish to make claims identify what they must do to comply with European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods. It also explains how new claims will be authorised.
Guidance on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to food
The guidance aims to help food business operators who wish to fortify, or otherwise add vitamins and minerals and other substances to food, identify what they must do to comply with European Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to food.
Principles for preventing and responding to food incidents
This guide has been developed by the Taskforce on Incidents, to aid food businesses and others and to prevent or deal efficiently with food incidents if they occur.
Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (England) Regulations 2008
The proposed Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (England) Regulations 2008 will implement Commission Directive 2007/19/EC in English Law by providing further routine amendments to the lists of substances that can be used in the manufacture of food contact plastics.
EU Official Feed and Food Controls regulation: Guidance for enforcement authorities
Q&A notes for enforcement authorities on the new EU Regulation on official feed and food controls (882/2004).
Imports of products of non-animal origin: Guidance for businesses
Guidance notes for feed and food businesses on the imports provisions for products of non-animal origin are available.
Sampling food and feed for genetically modified (GM) material guidance
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) supplementary guidance on the sampling of GM food and feed for enforcement officers, following a European Commission (EC) Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) Mission to the UK in June 2006.
Guidance on expenses arising from 'additional official controls'
The Food Standards Agency has issued guidance notes to provide advice in relation to regulation 41 of the Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2007, which came into force on 14 December 2007. Parallel regulations apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Distance selling guidance for food businesses
The Agency has produced guidance for food businesses on selling food for delivery (distance selling).
Guidance notes on materials and articles in contact with food
These have been prepared to provide information relating to European Regulation (EC) No. 2023/2006 on good manufacturing practice for materials and articles intended to come into contact with food.
GM food and feed, and traceability and labelling of GMOs: Guidance notes on the regulations
New rules concerning genetically modified organisms (GMOs) became legally binding across all Member States on 18 April 2004, one covering Traceability and Labelling of GMOs (EC No. 1830/2003) and the other, the GM Food and Feed Regulation (EC No. 1829/2003), dealing with authorisation procedures and labelling issues.
Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (Lid Gasket) Regulations 2007: Guidance note
The proposed 2007 Regulations will provide for the enforcement, in England, of Regulation (EC) No 372/2007 by the food authorities as defined by the Food Safety Act 1990.
Mycotoxins in foodstuffs sampling advice
This sampling advice is intended to provide information to enforcement authorities and food business operators on the legislation regarding mycotoxins in foodstuffs and the official methods of sampling certain foods for mycotoxins.
Food Standards Agency Guidance Notes on Articles 14, 16, 18 and 19 of the General Food Law Regulation (EC) 178/2002
Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 lays down general principles and requirements of food law and food safety procedures, and established the European Food Safety Authority.
Undesirable substances in animal feed
Undesirable substances (contaminants) are defined in legislation as 'any substance or product, with the exception of pathogenic agents, which is present in and/or on the product intended for animal feed and which presents a potential danger to animal or human health or to the environment or could adversely affect livestock production'.
Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2006: Guidance notes
This guidance is aimed primarily at businesses that manufacture, use, or sell materials and articles made from plastic that are intended for use in contact with food.
Contaminants in Food (England) Regulations Guidance note
This Guidance Note has been produced by the Food Standards Agency with the aim of providing informal guidance and a general introduction to The Contaminants in Food (England) Regulations 2007.
Import of food from third countries: guidance for food authorities
The Food Standards Agency has issued guidance for the import of food from third countries (non-European Union countries) for enforcement officers at ports and inland local authorities.
Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (England) Regulations 2006: Guidance notes
This guidance provides a short summary of the changes proposed by the new regulations in so far as they relate to England only. It is aimed primarily at companies that manufacture, use or sell materials and articles made from food contact plastics, and those plastics, adhesives and coatings containing BADGE (2,2,-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane bis(2,3-epoxypropyl) ether and its derivatives.
Feeding Stuffs Regulations 2005 Guidance Notes
Legislation concerning animal feeding stuffs, which includes pet food and feed for horses, farmed fish and in limited cases wild animals, is harmonised throughout the EU and based on measures negotiated in Brussels by the Member States
Food Supplements Regulations 2003: Guidance notes
The Food Supplements Directive 2002/46/EC came into force in July 2002 and was implemented in England by the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003. Separate, equivalent legislation has been made in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The directive and these regulations apply from 1 August 2005.
Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (England) Regulations 2005
This guidance has been prepared to provide information about the Regulations. It should not be taken as an interpretation of the law. It is not a substitute for the Regulations nor should it be read in isolation from them.
Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2005 Guidance Notes
The Agency has issued new guidance aimed primarily at businesses in England that manufacture, sell or use plastic materials and articles intended for use in contact with food.
Waste cooking oil from catering premises
Guidance issued jointly by the Food Standards Agency, Cabinet Office, Environment Agency, Defra, HM Revenue and Customs and LACORS.
Sampling guidance
These guidance documents on food standards and feedingstuffs sampling have been developed through the Sampling Co-ordination Working Group (SCWG) and has been endorsed by the Enforcement Liaision Group (ELG).
Sudan dyes in chilli imported from India: Guidance notes
The Food Standards Agency investigations have identified that certain food products sold in the UK have been found to contain chilli powder, chilli products or curry powder imported from India illegally contaminated with the Sudan dyes which are chemicals that could cause cancer.
Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003 Guidance Notes
These Guidance Notes relate to the provisions of The Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003 No. 1182). They came into force on 23 May 2003 and permit the marketing and use of the sweetener, salt of aspartame-acesulfame, for two years.
Food Additives Legislation Guidance Notes
The Sweeteners in Food Regulations 1995 (as amended), the Colours in Food Regulations 1995 (as amended), and the Miscellaneous Food Additives Regulations 1995 (as amended)